Happy new year- what's next for Owusu?

Oh that fabulous time of year- the beginning. Full of so much promise, hope, resolutions and aspirations...

I'm 22 and have six months to go until I'm unemployed and potentially out on my arse. I've had the most amazing year and a half working at Staffs- transforming from a subdued and reserved graduate to a confident and outgoing professional. I don't always feel like it during those self deprecating moments but when I reflect on where I've come from it's hard to ignore the change. 

Knowing a sabbatical officer's shelf life is that of a 2 year period, I had it all planned and sorted out this time last year right down to a tee: I'd finish my role as president, move back to London and live in my family home while working in some corporate field...but circumstance and lovely-but-interfering parents can be a bitch.

My 25-year-old sister is going through a quarter life crisis and after being stuck in a 6 year dead end relationship, has been mercilessly rocked to the core by my no-nonsense mother's harsh words. This conversation resonated and now my sister is lost, no longer wanting to live outside of London with no clear cut future and potentially no partner.

A week ago I was at home, job hunting and going through the motions blissfully happy. Seven days later I discover VIA TEXT (cheerz fam) my sister will now be moving back home. Into my bedroom. And we don't exactly get along too well.

So now my initially buried and long-forgotten aspirations of wanting to work abroad have been revived in my psyche and the possibilities are looking endless. I've spent countless nights researching jobs abroad but now I'm going to take the plunge.

I'm a little bit terrified but if I let fear eclipse my excitement there's no way I'll ever fulfil any of the things dreams are made of.

I have a few friends across the globe whose bravery inspires me to go for it with every message, snap or check in. When I stop and pause and reflect on my life I have nothing holding me back or keeping me in England. I have no commitments and the ties that bind my family, good friends and I are strong enough to survive: if not, thanks for the memories.

It's taken me a while but just by writing this I know it's a done deal. Where to go next...that's my big question! Africa or South East Asia are taking my fancy, but anything goes...

They're just not that into ME?

So I’ve noticed people have this weird tendency to over-complicate elements of life that really need no further complication. Things are actually pretty straightforward most of the time: it's us as humans who choose to misconstrue meaning and change things within an inch of its original state.

If someone isn't interested in you and tells you that or implies through not pouncing on you or general body language: it's probably because they ARE NOT interested. Trying to twist each subtle nuance/ interaction/ accidental glance and misinterpreting it as something imaginary that is not really there can only be detrimental to the person seeing it. The one being obsessed over is living their life, blissfully unaware. Seen it far too many times with friends who have had 'a moment' with someone ONCE but think that's one step closer to holy matrimony.

MATE we're not in an idealistic Danielle Steel novel OR a rom-com. This is real life.

You may be one of those people who have experienced this too with their friends. Or are guilty. If this scenario is unfolding itself with someone you know and they seek advice BE HONEST. Sometimes it's all too funny hearing how naive or ridiculous their perception can be but ultimately they are your friend and the last thing you'd want to see is them hurt. Or embarrassed once they make a complete tit out of themselves after they spot the object of their affection out and one too many sambucas are consumed. And remember you gotta roll with this person afterwards...your rocketeering street credibility is also on the line ;).

If you (Uncle Sam point) are a perpetrator please recognise these traits and step away. This person probably isn't worth all your anguish and hero worship. If they can't see how much you're into them then how attentive would they really be in any form of relationship? Really. It's not hard to realise eventually when someone's into you. Unless you're not into them and deliberately act nonchalant or oblivious to the fact. If that person were into you they really would have put SOME sort of nondescript move on you by now.

If people just stopped reading into things and took such things as they are I know my life for one, would be easier.

One day I'll live in a world where everything is just as it's meant to be and does exactly what it's supposed to on the tin. A world six feet under in pure bliss. No more human interaction as none of us will technically be human. Win.

R x